If you’ve ever juggled groceries while trying to unlock your door, you already know: a smart lock isn’t a luxury — it’s a quality-of-life upgrade. I grabbed the Aqara Smart Lock U50 on a whim, mostly because it worked with HomeKit and didn’t break the bank. What I didn’t expect? It’s now one of my favorite smart home purchases, period.

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What Makes the U50 So Good

1. Apple Home + HomeKey Support
   • This thing just works with Apple Home. Tap your iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock — no apps, no delay. You can also easily view lock status on your control center (see below) and setup shortcuts.
2. Fast Response
   • It unlocks instantly with HomeKey. There’s a tiny delay when using HomeKit automations or the Aqara app, but nothing deal-breaking. Think: 1–2 seconds max. And when it’s fast, it’s instant.
3. Battery Life That Actually Lasts
   • It runs on 4 AA batteries. Aqara says you’ll get 6–8 months, and I’ve gone well over 4 months with no signs of slowing down. (You’ll get notifications when it’s low.)
4. Easy Install
   • I had it swapped in under 20 minutes using just a screwdriver. If you’ve ever installed a deadbolt, you’ve basically already done it.
5. Auto-Lock, One-Touch Locking, and More
   • You can set it to lock automatically after a delay, lock with a tap, or trigger it as part of a HomeKit scene (like locking up when the last person leaves).

Where to Get It